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Hyperlipidemia is a medical term for conditions in which lipid or fat levels in the blood are elevated or abnormally high. It is important for you to be aware of this condition. Sometimes the symptoms can not be felt, but the effect in the future may increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, or even can lead to death.
Hyperlipidemia is better known as high cholesterol, because it is characterized by high cholesterol, triglyceride levels, or both. These are the two major lipids or fats found in the blood.
Triglycerides come from the extra calories stored by the body and from your diet, such as dairy products, meat, high-sugar foods, fructose, and alcoholic beverages. While cholesterol is produced naturally in the liver and can be obtained from fatty foods, such as eggs, red meat, and cheese. The cholesterol is further divided into two types, namely good cholesterol (High Density Lipoprotein / HDL) and bad cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein / LDL).
Cholesterol becomes a problem when the bad cholesterol levels are too high and the good cholesterol levels are too low. Usually, people with hyperlipidemia have bad cholesterol levels and too high triglycerides. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels that are too high can cause blockage or plaque on the walls of blood vessels. Over time, the plaque can expand and clog the arteries, causing heart disease and stroke.
Risk Factors Hyperlipidemia
There are several factors that can increase a person's risk of hyperlipidemia, among others:
Unhealthy lifestyle
Obesity, eating too much fatty foods, smoking habits, consuming too much alcohol, and lazing to exercise can adversely affect your cholesterol levels.
Certain medications
Birth control pills, diuretic medications, and some types of antidepressants, are also known to affect your cholesterol levels.
Certain health conditions
Abnormal cholesterol levels can be found in pregnant women and people suffering from certain diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid abnormalities, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Heredity
Hyperlipidemia can also be genetic or hereditary. Generally, people with hyperlipidemic derivative conditions have high cholesterol and triglyceride levels since age. This condition increases the risk of early coronary heart disease and heart attacks. Symptoms can be felt in several years, such as chest pain, mild heart attacks, cramps in the calves while walking, wounds on toes that do not heal, and symptoms of stroke.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia has almost no signs and symptoms. But in hyperlipidemia derivatives, can appear symptoms such as growth of yellowish fat around the eyes and joints.
To ensure hyperlipedimia conditions, a blood test called a lipid profile check or lipid panel should be performed. The results of this examination will show total cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, good cholesterol levels and bad cholesterol.
The normal cholesterol level of each person varies depending on history and health conditions. Normal total cholesterol levels are below 200 mg / dL, and can be said to be high if it exceeds 240 mg / dL. LDL levels are considered normal if they range from 100 - 129 mg / dL, and are in very high categories if they exceed 190 mg / dL. Normal triglyceride levels are below 150 mg / dL, and are in high category if it exceeds 200 mg / dL.
How To Overcome Hyperlipidemia
Treatment of hyperlipidemia may vary. Most cases of hyperlipidemia can be overcome by changing and improving lifestyle. In some cases, hyperlipidemia should be treated by taking medical drugs. Here are some ways to lower cholesterol levels too high:
Implement a healthy lifestyle
Living a healthy lifestyle and a healthy diet with low fat and fiber-rich diet, maintaining weight, exercising, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption can lower your cholesterol levels.
Medical drugs
There are several types of drugs to treat hyperlipidemic conditions. Cholesterol drugs that are often prescribed by doctors are statins. This drug is powerful to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Nicotinic acid can also lower bad cholesterol levels and high triglyceride levels. Fibrat is another type of drug to lower triglyceride levels and increase good cholesterol levels. There is also a new type of drug that can inhibit the absorption of cholesterol from food, the drug is called selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor barrier (selective cholesterol absorption inhibitor).
To overcome hyperlipidemia, in addition to living a healthy lifestyle, you need to regularly perform regular blood tests to monitor the levels of fat in the body. You can also consult a doctor to determine the appropriate hyperlipidemic measures according to your condition.
